Vanderbilt provost Richard McCarty stepping down to return to classroom

Dec. 4, 2013

Vanderbilt Provost Richard McCarty / Vanderbilt University

Written by

Heidi Hall

The Tennessean

Vanderbilt University’s Richard McCarty will return to the faculty after a six-year run as the school’s chief academic officer.

A psychologist and authority on the effects of stress, McCarty came to Vanderbilt in 2001 as dean of the College of Arts and Science, then took the job as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs in 2008. He’ll leave that position in June and take a year’s leave before returning as a professor. A Vanderbilt news release said the school plans a national search to find his replacement.

“Richard has led the academic initiatives of the university with integrity, commitment and purpose,” Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos said in the release. “Our mission of education and research has flourished under his leadership. He is a distinguished scholar, a respected member of the Vanderbilt community and entirely dedicated to providing our students the best educational experience in the country. He has been a true partner to me, and I will miss his wise counsel.”

McCarty has worked as a research associate in pharmacology with the National Institute of Mental Health, as an executive director for science with the American Psychological Association and as a department chair at the University of Virginia.